Many State Legislatures Are Looking at Opioid Bills

States continue to propose opioid prescribing limits and are looking at more ways to control the prescribing and use of opioids through physician education, patient education, safer packaging and unused medication return options.

Curiously, there is a bill in New York to expand access to opioids. AB102 would require health insurance companies to provide coverage for opioids, prevent any type of prior-authorization for opioids and prohibit an insurance carrier from charging a different rate for drugs in the opioid class. Fortunately, that bill does not affect workers’ compensation.

Here are a few bills from the 2019 sessions that will impact workers’ compensation opioid prescribing: